Quick Specs

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Editors' Review

Even though this program lacks many of the features we like to see in a Net phone, its attractive, easy-to-use interface somewhat compensates for its omissions. Creating a BuddyTalk account is a more convoluted process than we'd like. You must first surrender your e-mail address to obtain a device ID, fill out a form on the developer's site, then wait for another e-mail to get your user ID and password. BuddyTalk's slick interface looks just like a real-world cell phone and displays prominent tabs for switching between PC-to-PC and PC-to-phone modes. You can easily adjust the volume of the incoming calls, but you can't configure your microphone from directly within the program. The application logs all call records and lets you easily add a contact to your address book with only a few clicks. Unfortunately, BuddyTalk doesn't have most of the basic features found in some competitors, omitting voice mail, an IM client, and conference calls. In our tests, call quality was medicore; we could hear everything just fine, but incoming callers weren't exactly crystal clear. On the plus side, calling other BuddyTalk members is free, and the rates for dialing telephones within the United States are a reasonable four cents per minute. All told, this program best suits those who are new to Internet telephony and don't demand a large feature set.

Publisher's Description

+

From InnoMedia:
BuddyTalk is Internet voice-communication software that offers four ways of communicating with anyone in the world. It features include the ability to multiparty conference where up to 10 BuddyTalk users can talk simultaneously; low-cost PC-to-phone calling to any phone in more than 200 countries; free, integrated instant messaging with other BuddyTalk users; and free PC-to-PC calling to other BuddyTalk users anywhere in the world.

After a difficult day of trying to register this product they send me an email saying that they want me to fax them credit card statements, a copy of my credit card, and identification. Initially registering this product they told me that I can't use a public email address such as my yahoo account. So I called up my internet provider and asked them about the email box they provide to me that I never use. Any way I never got the chance to register this product because of the hoops required. I don't know if it works or not.

It does what it says and at very nice quality. What it lacks is mere annoyances that result from lack of some basic features and inability to save default settings. For example, when it's started, it always comes up (cannot start minimised), and it always starts in PC-to-Phone mode, which is really cheap, but not free. It also starts up a web page that simply tells you that community chat has been discontinued (used to be an auto-signin page). When searching for other users, the result list is fixed at a 50 maximum and the user cannot choose how the list is sorted. Also, this software will require an enhanced Full-duplex (separate record and playback mixer controls: eg. Sound Blaster Live) for smooth operation. It will function on more primitive full duplex cards, but one or both users may recieve an echo. Half duplex operation is not supported. Unconfirmed at the moment- it may have caused interference with my FTP server while in PC-to-PC chat.

I forgive the small annoyances in this software because it is version 1.0, it does have an effective central server-based call system, so you don't need to know the person youre trying to contact's IP, and the voice quality is very good. I was able for a short time to make the voice break up, but it took a solid bandwidth crunch and a heavy processor load (virus scan) to do it.

I have recently been endlessly searching for a program that could make free long distance calls, because I have a lot of family and friends who live far away.
I read the user opinions, and it seemed like BuddyTalk was free, so I downloaded it.
Unfortunately, it either is not free, or I simply cannot figure out how to register! I've looked all over their website, and I cannot find where you are supposed to obtain a username.
Please, if any of you know where to get a username, or, better yet, a free program that I can get, PLEASE send me an E-mail at GrantinatorPlus13@hotmail.com and I would be greatful.
However, the program does seem like an excellent idea, and it is certainly professional looking.

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